Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-08-27
CHAPTER VII.
A SLAUGHTER GRIN AND GREAT.

Th,n came a pause and We stood there in the
chilly, silent darkness waiting till the momen,
came TO start 1t was, perhaps, the mos,
trying time of all-that slow, slow quarter OF
an hour. The minutes seemed to drag along
with leaden feet, and the quiet, the solemn
hush, that broolej over all-biS, Is it WERE
with a coming fate-was most oppressive to
the spirits.
The moon went down; for . long while she
had been getting nearer and nearer to the
horizon, now she finally sank, and left the
world i'll darkness save for faint gray tinge
in the eastern sky that palely heraldei the
coming dawn.
Mr. Mackenzie stood, watch in hand, his
wife clmging to his arm and striving to stifle
her sots.
Twenty minutes to four, he said; iit ought
70 he light enough TO attack at twenty min
utes past four. Capt Good had better be
moving; he will want three Or four minutes
start
Good gave one final polish to his eyeglass,
nodded to US in a jocular sort of way-which
/ could not help feeling it must have cost him
something 10 muster up-and, ever polite,
took off his ta,l lined cap to Mrs Mackenzie
and started for h!s position at the head of the
kraal. TO reach which he had to make Q de-
tour 10y some paths known to the natives
Just then one of the boys came in and re-
ported tina: everybody in the Nasal camp,
with the exception of the two sentries who
Were walking up aud down in front of the re-
srectire entrances, appeared to be fast asleep.
Then the rest Of Us took the road First
came the guide, then Sir Henry, Umslopo-
gaas the Wakwaf Askari and Mr.. Macken-
zies two mission natives, armed with long
spears and shields followed Immediately
after with Alphonse and five natives, all
armed with guns, and Mr.. Mackenzie brought
up the rear with The six remaining natives
The cattle kraal where the Nasal were
camped lay at the foot Of the hill ON which
the house stood, or, roughly speaking, about
SO yards from the mission buildings The
first 500 ards Of this distance We traversel
quietly indeed, but at a good pace; after that
we crept forward as silently a leopard on
his prey, gliding like ghosts from bush TO bush
and stone TO stone. When had gone little
way l CHANGED to look behind ne, and saw
the redouhtable Alphonse staggering along
with white face and trembling knees, and his
rife, which Was at full cock, pointed directly
At the small Of my back. Having halted, and
carefully put the rifle at safety" we started
again, and all went well till We were within
100 yards or so Of the kraal, when his teeth
began TO chatter in the most aggressive way.
If You don't stop that, will kill you,-
whispered. savagely; for the idea Of having
all our lives sacrificed to . tooth chattering
cook was too much for me. began to fear
that he would betray US, and heartily wished
We had left him behind
But, monsieur, cannot help it, he an
swered; 1T is the cold"
Here was n dilemma; but fortunately de-
vised plan. In the pocket Of the coat had
on was u small piece Of dirty rag that had
used some time before TO clean o gun with
PUT this in Your mouth" whispered again,
giving him the rag; "and il hear another
sound you ara dead man" knew that that
would stifle the clatter of his teeth. must
have looked as if meant what / said, for he
instantly obeyed me and continued his jour
ney in silence.
Then We crept on again.
At last We were within fifty yards Of the
kraal Between Us and il was an open space
OF sloping grass. with only one mimosa
bush and couple Of tussocks Of a sort Of |
thistle for cover. We were still hidden in |
fairly thick bush. 1t was beginning to grow
light. The stars Ind paled and a sickly CLEAN |
played about the east and was reflected ON |
the earth. We could see the outline Of the |
kraal clearly enough, and could also make |
out the faint glmner of the dying emters Of |
the Nasal camp fires. We halted and watched |
for the sentry We knew was posted at the
opening. Presently lie sppeared. iile tall :.